Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
Characterizing Loneliness and Health in US Adults: An analysis of 2024 National Health Interview Survey
Troy C Dildine1, Colleen Burke2,3, Flavia P Kapos3
1Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine Department, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States.
Background:
Loneliness is common and deleterious to health. Yet little is known about its population burden and health correlates in the US. We aimed to determine the prevalence of loneliness and characterize its health and social functioning correlates among US adults.
Methods:
With data from the National Health Interview Study (2024), we used survey-weighted Poisson regression to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for frequent loneliness by levels of self-reported general health, social/emotional support, social functioning, and healthcare utilization, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, number of people in household, marital status, and psychological distress.
Results:
12 million US adults reported usually or always feeling lonely, which was associated with worse general health and social/emotional support, work and social participation limitations, and healthcare disengagement.
Conclusions:
Loneliness affects millions of US adults, with substantial health and social functioning burden.
Related Concept Videos
Longitudinal Research
Dimensions of Health and Illness
Social Relationships and Well-Being
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
